Currently the Navajo Nation falls under USEPA Region 9, who are responsible for implementing federal environmental laws within the boundary and jurisdiction of the Navajo Nation. Region 9 includes all of California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii and encompasses 148 Native American tribes.

“We believe that a Navajo Region would greatly improve implementation and enforcement of federal environmental laws across the Navajo Nation,” President Begaye said. “It has become apparent that Region 9 has struggled with the challenges of implementing environmental laws in a culturally unique area over 750 miles away from the Regional office.”

Ever since the Gold King Mine spill in August 2015, President Begaye has advocated for the USEPA to create a region specific to the Navajo Nation. The Nation encompasses over 27,000 square miles and spans boundary over three states.

“Despite awareness of an enormous release of acid mine drainage into the waterways of the Navajo Nation, the USEPA failed to notify the Navajo Nation in timely manner,” he said.

It took the USPEA three days to notify the Navajo Nation, by which time the Office of the President and Vice President had already notified all surrounding tribal communities and set a Declaration of Emergency in place to address the disaster.

The letter to President Obama, through USEPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, also addressed the Navajo Abandoned Uranium Mines (AUM) project which President Begaye said “continues to struggle with community outreach, communications and coordination, and trust issues.”

OPVP stated that the creation of a Navajo Regional office would greatly improve performance in areas like the Navajo AUM while strengthening the enforcement of federal environmental laws across the Navajo Nation.

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